German of the day: Ernstes Signal

September 30, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology Tags: Economy, Employment, EU, Europe, Germany, Industry, Jobs, VW Leave a comment

That means a serious signal.

46,000 Jobs Lost: German Corporations Lead the EU in Job Cuts — “a serious signal.”

In 2025, leading German corporations cut significantly more jobs worldwide than companies in France, Spain, or Italy. Workforces are shrinking dramatically, especially at large corporations.

The German economy is in crisis. One bankruptcy follows another. But things aren’t looking particularly rosy internationally either. Nevertheless, companies in Germany are cutting significantly more jobs than firms in Spain, France, or Italy.

Volkswagen has steering problems

September 26, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Home Cooking Tags: Automobiles, Germany, Industry, Recalls, Volkswagen Leave a comment

And their cars do too.

Volkswagen, Audi to recall almost 1 million cars in Germany – Volkswagen and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to a potential steering fault.

Germany auto firm Volkswagen (VW) and its subsidiary Audi are to recall nearly a million vehicles in Germany due to steering problems, according to German media reports.

The KBA road traffic authority was cited by the t-online news portal as saying that the recall was required due to potential bolt failures that could damage the steering gearbox or, in some cases, cause a complete loss of steering.

It’s just a phaseout Germany’s going through

September 24, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking, Hard Facts, Hideology Tags: Electricity, Energy, Fossil Fuels, Greens, Ideology, Industry, Renewable energy Leave a comment

Sooner or later they’ll figure out that this is bat shit crazy.

Germany sets out plan to phase out fossil fuels by 2045 – Germany has said it plans to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas by 2045, reaffirming a climate strategy focused on electrification.

“Our road map is intended to set an international example. I am sure that many other countries will follow.”

Luxury has its price

September 23, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: Automobiles, Germany, Unions, Energy, Industry, Labor, Mercedes, Production, Mercedes-Benz Leave a comment

And it’s too high, in Germany.

Mercedes-Benz production in Germany is not competitive by international standards, in particular due to high labour costs, the premium automaker said on ‌Tuesday, after a top executive warned workers that two plants could close.

The company wants to maintain plants and employment in Germany, it said in an emailed statement to Reuters. “But to do that, we need framework conditions that boost productivity in Germany,” it added.

German of the day: Insolvenz

September 11, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Economy, Energy, Germany, Industry, Insolvency Leave a comment

That means insolvency.

German corporate insolvencies hit 13-year high in first half – The number of corporate insolvencies in Germany rose to a 13-year high in the first half of ‌2026 despite signs of a nascent recovery in Europe’s largest economy, figures from the federal statistics office showed on Friday.

Local courts reported 12,812 corporate insolvency filings from ⁠January to June, an increase of 6.7% year-on-year, with transportation and warehousing the most affected sectors.

A warning for Germany?

September 10, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Heconomy, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking, Hurt Feelings Tags: AfD, Economy, Employment, Energy, Germany, Industry, Jobs, Migration Leave a comment

I think this warning is coming a little too late.

Warning Systems in Germany Are Being Tested – Can authorities reach and warn the public in an emergency? That will be tested today starting at 11 a.m. as part of the nationwide Warning Day. In the past, gaps in the system have repeatedly come to light.

Across Germany, disaster warning systems will be tested on Thursday morning starting at 11 a.m. On the nationwide Warning Day, the federal government, states, and local authorities will trigger a test alert via various channels—including official warning apps such as Nina and Katwarn, as well as the cell broadcast system for cell phones. The media and electronic display boards will also broadcast warning messages. An all-clear is expected to be issued around 11:45 a.m.

German VW workers vs. Chinese counterparts

September 3, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Habitudes, Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hideology, Home Cooking Tags: Automobiles, China, Germany, Industry, Sick Leave Leave a comment

I wonder who wins?

Labor Costs, Sick Leave, Productivity: Confidential Document: VW Compares German and Chinese Workers.

Ten percent of VW workers in Germany are sick at any given time. In China it’s less than two percent.

But at least in China these workers will soon be replaced by robots who will be working 24/7 and never call in sick.

51.5% full is well over half

August 30, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: Energy, Gas, Germany, Industry, LNG, Nuclear, Pipelines, Renewables Leave a comment

So what’s the big deal?

But plan to dress warmly this winter anyway.

Germany risks missing gas storage target as industry faces cold-winter threat – Germany will miss its November gas-storage target if injections continue at their current pace, the country’s storage association has warned. Although there is no immediate gas shortage, low storage levels combined with a very cold winter could threaten industrial production in the country…

German storage facilities were approximately 51.5% full on 25 August, compared with around 69% a year earlier. Germany is required to reach an aggregate filling level of 70% by 1 November.

A slight rise is still a rise

August 29, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Hurt Feelings Tags: Bureaucracy, Energy, Germany, Industry, Jobs, Unemployment Leave a comment

The main thing is that it keeps rising.

German unemployment rises slightly less than expected in August – The number of unemployed people in Germany rose slightly less than expected in August, labour office figures showed ‌on Friday.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the jobless figure grew by 4,000 to 2.996 million, while analysts polled by Reuters had predicted an increase of 5,000.

How the mighty have fallen

August 16, 2026 By Hermann Observer in Hard Facts, Helplessness, Home Cooking Tags: Automobiles, Bureaucracy, Employment, Energy, Germany, Growth, Industry, Jobs Leave a comment

And keep fallin’.

Germany’s auto industry loses over 42,000 jobs in six months – Germany’s struggling automotive industry is facing further pressure as employment in the sector continues to decline.

According to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of people employed at automotive manufacturing companies fell by 42,300, or 5.8%, in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2025.

Following the decline, employment in Germany’s automotive industry dropped to 691,500. This is the lowest level recorded since 2005.

Observing Hermann

“Was interessiert mich mein Geschwätz von gestern?”

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